Anchor assembly with toggle for hollow walls

ABSTRACT

An anchor assembly (A) for hollow walls comprises an anchor body ( 400 ) and a toggle member ( 231 ) that is displaceable between a first position wherein the toggle member ( 231 ) is substantially aligned with the anchor body ( 400 ) such that the anchor assembly (A) can be inserted in the wall (W) via a cutting distal end ( 325 ) of the toggle member ( 231 ), and a second position wherein the toggle member ( 231 ) extends behind the wall (W) at an angle relative to the anchor body ( 400 ) which extends through the wall (W). The toggle member ( 231 ) is held captive in the first position but is released and then rotated to the second position by a fastener ( 218 ) introduced in the anchor body ( 400 ). The fastener ( 218 ) threadably engages the toggle member ( 231 ) thereby drawing the toggle member ( 231 ) against a hidden side of the wall (W).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/886,942, filed Jun. 18, 2008, which is a 371 filing of InternationalApplication No. PCT/CA2006/000428 filed on Mar. 21, 2006, which claimspriority on Canadian Patent Application No. 2,502,008 filed on Mar. 21,2005 and on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/685,501 filed onMay 31, 2005, which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to anchoring devices for fastening objects tohollow walls of plaster board, masonry, brick and the like whereinelongated fasteners, such as bolts, screws, etc. may be attached forfurther attachment of a work piece or fixture. More particularly, theinvention relates to so-called toggle bolt anchors which penetrate wallboard material and the like with a nut or anchor portion extending alonga first axis, the anchor portion being moveable to a position extendingalong an axis normal to the first axis so that a threaded bolt mayengage the threads of the nut to draw the nut against the back surfaceof the wall board or so that a screw may tap threads in the anchorportion to draw the anchor portion against the back surface of the wallboard.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,169 issued to McSherry et al. on Jun. 22, 1993,which is herewith incorporated herein by reference, there is disclosedan anchor assembly for fasteners which comprises a pair of elongatedwire-like legs supported in parallel relation with an anchor moveablysupported on the legs and moveable from a first position substantiallyin alignment with the legs to a position transverse to the legs, andwherein the anchor defines tracks on each side to support the anchor onthe legs. Pivotal movement of the anchor is achieved by the interactionbetween the tracks on the anchor and the legs upon which the anchorrides.

The problem with most anchors of the above type is that a hole has to bedrilled in the wall before the anchor assembly can be inserted in thehole to dispose the anchor portion in the wall hollow to be drawnagainst the back surface of the wall. Drilling, especially in friablewall board material, usually results in a damaged rear surface and thusa weakened wall. This results even in the instance where a drill tip isapplied to a leading end of an anchor in such an anchor assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,865-B1 issued to McSherry on Jun. 26, 2001, which isherewith incorporated herein by reference, discloses a wall anchorassembly for fasteners, which comprises a drilling tip at a leading endof the toggle, i.e. of the anchor member, of the anchor assembly. Moreparticularly, the anchor assembly has a pair of posts extending from acollar. The collar has an opening for passing a part of a screw. Distalfrom the collar, the posts are connected by a connector. The anchormember is captive between the posts and between the collar and theconnector. The anchor assembly has a penetrating configuration in whichthe anchor axis is substantially parallel to the assembly axis, and theanchor body portion and posts form a body portion. A tongue protrudesfrom an inside surface of a post and engages a groove on the anchormember in the penetrating configuration with the longitudinal anchoraxis substantially parallel to the assembly axis, and transmits axialrotation from the collar to the anchor member. The screw engages a holein the anchor to draw the anchor member against the wall to clamp theanchor assembly to the wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improvedanchor assembly.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is providedan anchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor body and atoggle member moveably mounted to said anchor body, said toggle memberbeing displaceable between first and second positions thereof, whereinin said first position said toggle member is substantially aligned withsaid anchor body such that the anchor assembly can be rotated forinsertion in the wall, and wherein in said second position said togglemember extends behind the wall at an angle relative to said anchor bodywith said anchor body extending through the hole in the wall, saidtoggle member being held captive in said first position but beingdisplaceable longitudinally along said anchor body when an appropriatefastener is introduced in said anchor body, deflector means beingprovided for causing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacement ofsaid toggle member has released the same from a captive state thereof,said toggle member to pivot relative to said anchor body to said secondposition, said toggle member being adapted to then threadably receivethe fastener such that further rotation of the fastener draws saidtoggle member against a hidden side of the wall with said anchor bodybeing held substantially fixed relative to the wall, said anchor bodyand said toggle member being provided with at least first and secondlocking means that cooperate for retaining said toggle member in saidcaptive state when in said first position, said locking means beingspaced apart.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided ananchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor body and a togglemember moveably mounted to said anchor body, said toggle member beingdisplaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in saidfirst position said toggle member is substantially aligned with saidanchor body such that the anchor assembly can be rotated for insertionin the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle memberextends behind the wall at an angle relative to said anchor body withsaid anchor body extending through the hole in the wall, said togglemember being held captive in said first position but being displaceablelongitudinally along said anchor body when an appropriate fastener isintroduced in said anchor body, deflector means being provided forcausing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacement of said togglemember has released the same from a captive state thereof, said togglemember to pivot relative to said anchor body to said second position,said toggle member being adapted to then threadably receive the fastenersuch that further rotation of the fastener draws said toggle memberagainst a hidden side of the wall with said anchor body being heldsubstantially fixed relative to the wall, wherein said anchor bodycomprises a proximal collar provided on a leading side thereof with atleast one curved locking protrusion extending outwardly from said collarand adapted to engage the wall at the end of the rotary installation ofsaid anchor assembly in the wall and thereby provide resistance to afurther rotation of said anchor assembly relative to the wall.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided ananchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor body and a togglemember moveably mounted to said anchor body, said toggle member beingdisplaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in saidfirst position said toggle member is substantially aligned with saidanchor body such that the anchor assembly can be rotated for insertionin the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle memberextends behind the wall at an angle relative to said anchor body withsaid anchor body extending through the hole in the wall, said togglemember being held captive in said first position but being displaceablelongitudinally along said anchor body when an appropriate fastener isintroduced in said anchor body, deflector means being provided forcausing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacement of said togglemember has released the same from a captive state thereof, said togglemember to pivot relative to said anchor body to said second position,said toggle member being adapted to then threadably receive the fastenersuch that further rotation of the fastener draws said toggle memberagainst a hidden side of the wall with said anchor body being heldsubstantially fixed relative to the wall, wherein said toggle member hasopposed proximal and distal ends, a recess being defined in saidproximal end of said toggle member and being adapted to receive aleading section of a rotary tool, such that the leading section of thetool can engage said recess in said first position and be rotated forinserting said anchor assembly in the wall with said distal end of saidtoggle member being adapted to cut through the wall.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided an anchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor bodyand a toggle member moveably mounted to said anchor body, said togglemember being displaceable between first and second positions thereof,wherein in said first position said toggle member is substantiallyaligned with said anchor body such that the anchor assembly can berotated for insertion in the wall, and wherein in said second positionsaid toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to saidanchor body with said anchor body extending through the hole in thewall, said toggle member being held captive in said first position butbeing displaceable longitudinally along said anchor body when anappropriate fastener is introduced in said anchor body, deflector meansbeing provided for causing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacementof said toggle member has released the same from a captive statethereof, said toggle member to pivot relative to said anchor body tosaid second position, said toggle member being adapted to thenthreadably receive the fastener such that further rotation of thefastener draws said toggle member against a hidden side of the wall withsaid anchor body being held substantially fixed relative to the wall,wherein a threaded hole is defined in said toggle member for receiving athreaded fastener, such as a machine screw.

Still further in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided an anchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor bodyand a toggle member moveably mounted to said anchor body, said togglemember being displaceable between first and second positions thereof,wherein in said first position said toggle member is substantiallyaligned with said anchor body such that the anchor assembly can berotated for insertion in the wall, and wherein in said second positionsaid toggle member extends behind the wall at an angle relative to saidanchor body with said anchor body extending through the hole in thewall, said toggle member being held captive in said first position butbeing displaceable longitudinally along said anchor body when anappropriate fastener is introduced in said anchor body, deflector meansbeing provided for causing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacementof said toggle member has released the same from a captive statethereof, said toggle member to pivot relative to said anchor body tosaid second position, said toggle member being adapted to thenthreadably receive the fastener such that further rotation of thefastener draws said toggle member against a hidden side of the wall withsaid anchor body being held substantially fixed relative to the wall,wherein said anchor body is made of a plastics material, such as nylon,and said toggle member is made of a metallic material, such as zinc,temporary locking means being provided between said anchor body and saidtoggle member in said first position for providing rigidity to saidanchor assembly.

More specifically, said anchor body comprises a proximal collar defininga hexagonal socket adapted to receive a hexagonal bit of a tool suchthat the tool can engage said socket such that the tool can engage saidrecess and can be rotated for inserting said anchor assembly, in saidfirst position, in the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way ofillustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:

FIGS. 1 to 14 are various views of a conventional anchor assembly,wherein

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a collar and posts of this anchor assembly;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a flanged end of the collar and postportion of the anchor assembly;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the screw tipped anchor portion of theanchor assembly;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the anchor portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the anchor portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG.7;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the anchor of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the conventional anchor assembly;

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of the anchor assembly, with a mockfastener head extending from the proximal end of the anchor assembly;

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the anchor assembly of FIG. 13 in“action” showing the positions of the anchor portion as it is pivoted toits anchoring position, which is shown in full lines;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of an anchor assembly in accordancewith the present invention, showing a toggle member of the anchorassembly in a first insertion position thereof;

FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the anchor assembly of FIG. 15,showing the toggle member in a second retention position thereof;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view, taken slightly from a bottomperspective, of the anchor assembly, this view being similar to FIG. 16but showing a fastener engaged to the anchor assembly;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view principally of a head portion ofthe anchor assembly;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of a proximal, i.e. trailing, end of thetoggle member of the anchor assembly;

FIG. 20 is a schematic front elevational view of the anchor assembly inthe retention position and holding an article against a ceiling;

FIGS. 21 a to 21 f are successive partly cross-sectional schematic sideviews showing the installation of the anchor assembly of FIGS. 15 to 19into a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 14 show the conventional anchor assembly 10 of aforementionedU.S. Pat. No. 6,250,865-B1, and a detailed description thereof followshereinbelow.

The anchor assembly 10 includes a collar 20 having an aperture 22dimensioned and configured to receive the shank portion of a bolt 18, orthe like. A pair of posts, 24, 26 extend integrally from the collar inparallel relation on either side of the post and collar portion of theassembly. The posts are connected to one another at their distal ends bya bent connecting end 28. The collar and aperture are configured toassure alignment between anchor member 31 and bolt fastener 18.

The anchor portion has forward and rearward tracks 35, 36 disposed onopposite sides of the anchor portion which slidably engage the oppositesides of the posts as the anchor portion is initially moved forward byengagement of a forwardly moving bolt. The anchor portion is maintainedin parallel relation with the posts by engagement of the ridges 40 andchannels 50 on the posts and sides of the anchor portion respectively.When the anchor portion channels pass the end of the post ridges, theanchor is permitted to move from its position with its axis parallelwith the posts to a position with its axis normal to the posts so thatthe bolt may be threaded in the hole 60 of the anchor portion to drawthe anchor portion against the back surface of the wall.

An internal ramp 70 is provided at the proximal end of the anchorportion to engage the end of the bolt resulting in the directing of theanchor portion out of parallel with the with the posts. External ramps80 on either side of the anchor portion between the forward and rearwardtracks 36, 36, which slide on the edges of the posts, interact with theconnection 28 between the posts to assure out of parallel relationshipwith the posts as well.

There is a space 100 between the forestward and rearmard tracks oneither side of the anchor portion equal to the width of the posts topermit the 90-degree axes displacement of the anchor portion and collarand post portion. Channels 101 within these spaces receive the postridges 40 when the anchor axis is normal to the axes of the posts.

The anchor portion and the collar and post portions are press fit in theassembly process. The assembly can be made of various materials, metalor plastic.

The anchor member 31 is provided with a screw tip 125 on the distal endthereof together with a flute 126 with a cutting leading edge and whichextends proximally to a channel 127. The leading edge 128 of the flutecuts the wall material which is deposited in the flute and given accessto the channel thereby lessening the amount of wall board material whichwill be compressed between turns of the relatively high taping threads129 of the screw tip and around the compression band 130 which runsbetween and parallel to the thread The leading edge is distended andcurves back at its proximal edge. This shape together with the screwthreads draws the anchor through the wall material rather than pushingthe material forward as occurs with a drilling action

As in FIG. 2, protrusion 140 on ridge 40 of post 26 secures detent 142(FIG. 7) on channel 50 of anchor member 31.

Bolt 18 may be a bolt, a machine screw, a self-tapping screw, or thelike. In the presently preferred embodiment, bolt 18 is a self tappingtype screw having a coarse thread tapering smaller at shaft end to atruncated conical shaft tip, which engages an unthreaded hole 60 (FIG.8) having four tappable ridges 160 protruding therein. Spaces 162between ridges 160 provide a place for ridge material displaced by thetapping to go.

Bolt 18 has a head which receives either Phillips or blade screwdrivers,as does the cross-slot 180 of collar 20.

FIGS. 15 to 20 illustrate an anchor assembly A in accordance with thepresent invention, and a detailed description thereof followshereinafter. As the anchor assembly A of the present invention hassimilarities both structurally and operatively with the conventionalanchor assembly 10 of aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,865-B1 (FIGS. 1to 14), the following description will be abbreviated for conciseness bydescribing features of the anchor assembly A not found in theconventional anchor assembly 10. Also, in the following description anddrawings that pertain thereto, components of anchor assembly A which aresimilar or identical in function and/or in structure to correspondingcomponents of anchor assembly 10 of FIG. 1 (and FIGS. 2 to 14) bear thesame references as in FIG. 1 (and FIGS. 2 to 13), but with 200 havingbeen thereto. New components (or components not identified for anchorassembly 10) provided in anchor assembly A start at reference numeral400.

In the anchor member 231 of anchor assembly A, the hole 260 is threadedand the fastener 218 is a bolt or a machine screw (e.g. of size ⅛″,3/16″ or ¼″), whereby the fastener does not have to tap a thread in thehole (as in hole 60 of anchor assembly 10).

The anchor assembly 10 is completely made of zinc, whereas a fixed body400 of the anchor assembly A is typically made of a plastics material,such as nylon. The toggle anchor member 231 generally remains made ofzinc. To compensate for the relative flexibility of nylon, which couldmanifest itself during the rotary installation of the anchor assembly ina wall, ceiling, etc., first and second temporary locking systems areprovided, which are operational when the anchor assembly A is in aninsertion position thereof, as seen in FIG. 15, wherein the toggleanchor member 231 is aligned with the nylon body 400 and islongitudinally retracted with respect thereto. These first and secondtemporary locking systems are provided in addition to the interactionbetween the tracks 235 and 236 with the posts 224 and 226 (see FIG. 15),and to the interaction between the connecting end 228 and a proximal end410 of the screw tip 325 (see FIG. 15).

The first locking system includes male elements, or tongues, 402 (seeFIG. 15) defined on inner surfaces of the posts 224 and 226 of the fixedbody 400, and female elements, or grooves, 404 (see FIGS. 16 and 17)defined at a proximal, i.e. trailing, end of the anchor member 231 andengaged by the male elements 402 in the insertion position.

The second first locking system includes male elements 406 (see FIGS. 15to 17) extending forwardly at the distal, i.e. leading, end of the fixedbody 400, and female elements 408 (see FIGS. 15 and 17) defined at theproximal end 410 of the screw tip 325 and engaged by the male elements406 in the insertion position.

The anchor member 231 is also provided with a protruding sloped element412 that, after some longitudinal displacement of the anchor member 231along the fixed body 400 caused by the gradual advancement in the anchorassembly A (in its insertion position) of the machine screw 218, engagesthe connecting end 228 thereby causing the anchor member 231 to pivotrelative to the body 400 into a perpendicular attitude that is adaptedto position the threaded hole 260 for subsequently receiving the machinescrew 218.

The collar 220 defines a pair of diametrically opposed fins or helicallocking members 414 (there needs to be at least one such fin 414), whichare helix-shaped for preventing (or at least significantly resisting),once the fins 414 are fully engaged in the gypsum of the wall or ceilingduring installation of the anchor assembly A therein, further rotationof the anchor assembly A. The helical locking members 414 are locatedunder, and spaced from, a flanged proximal end 418 of the fixed body400, the flanged end 418 being intended to abut the visible surface ofthe wall. The angle of the helix of the helical locking members 414 isdesigned such that it will not act as a thread and pull the fixed body400 into the drywall due to the dynamic inertia during the installation,and not steep enough to act as a locating tab (that extends in adiametrical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of theanchor) and then break the drywall into a large circular hole when thecomponent is somewhat over-tightened during installation.

The helical locking members 414 do not extend up to the flanged end 418with a gap 420 therebetween providing space for the dislocated drywallparticles to enter.

The aperture 222 defined throughout the collar 220 of the body 400 forallowing the fastener 218 to be slidably inserted therein, defines anhexagonal socket 380 (see FIG. 18) suited for receiving an “Allen”key-type of tool, including the standard hexagonal proximal ends ofscrewdriver bits (although a socket suitable for engagement by astar-shaped Philips-type bit can also be used). The proximal end of theanchor member 231 defines a cruciform recess 416 (see FIG. 19) adaptedto receive a Philips-type screwdriver bit or head. The tool carrying thePhilips-type screwdriver bit is inserted through the collar 220 and intoengagement with the cruciform recess 416 (the anchor assembly A being inthe insertion position, with the anchor member 231 locked to the body400), such that a rotation of the tool causes the whole anchor assemblyA to be driven into the gypsum wall or ceiling, until the fins 414become lodged in the gypsum and offer resistance to rotation of theanchor assembly A.

Typically for machine screws 218 sized ⅛″ and 3/16″, the aperture 222 inthe collar 220 can be Philips-shaped so that the tool engages only thebody 400 for installing the anchor assembly A in the gypsum wall orceiling. However, for machine screws of larger dimensions, such as ¼″,the resulting anchor assembly A is significantly bigger and would beharder to install, whereby the aperture 222 in the collar 220 ishexagonal (see socket 380) and the proximal end of the anchor member 231includes the afore-described cruciform recess 416 such that thePhilips-shaped tool engages the anchor member 231, which is strongerthat the body 400 at least when these two components are respectivelymade of zinc and nylon. If the tool's Philips-shaped bit is too shortand cannot reach the cruciform recess 416, the hexagonal proximal end ofthis bit can still be lodged in the hexagonal socket 380 such that thetool can act on the body 400 to install the anchor assembly A in thegypsum wall or ceiling.

FIG. 20 shows the anchor assembly A in an installed position thereofinto a ceiling C, securely holding an article P to the ceiling C(although the fastener 218 can be further rotatably inserted in theanchor assembly A).

FIGS. 21 a to 21 f illustrate, in a number of sequential views, varioussteps for installing the anchor assembly A in a hollow wall W. In FIG.21 a, the anchor assembly A, with its toggle anchor member 231 alignedwith the fixed body 400 is on the verge of being rotatably inserted inthe wall W using a screwdriver bit B. In FIG. 21 b, the anchor assemblyA is partly inserted through the wall W under the cutting action of thepointed threaded screw tip 325, and its flute 326, of the anchor member231.

FIG. 21 c shows the anchor assembly A fully inserted in the wall W, withthe anchor member 231 still in alignment with the fixed body 400, andwith the fastener on the verge of being engaged in the anchor assemblyA. FIG. 21 d illustrates the fastener 218 causing the pivot of theanchor member 231 relative to the fixed body 400, as the advancement ofthe fastener 218 causes it to engage the proximal end of the anchormember 231 and displace it translationally until the male elements 402and 406 are freed from their respective female elements 404 and 408,thereby allowing, when the sloped element 412 of the anchor member 231engages the connecting end 228 of the fixed body 400, the anchor member231 to pivot.

In FIG. 21 e, the anchor member 231 has fully pivoted to its toggleposition (i.e. perpendicular to the fixed body 400), and the fastener218 has threadably engaged the hole 260 defined in the anchor member231. A further rotation of the fastener 218 draws the anchor member 231towards the wall W until it is firmly abutted against the hidden surfaceof the wall W, as seen in FIG. 21 f.

It is noted that, in this illustrative embodiment, there are eightinterlocking members (four on each side of anchor assembly A) forretaining the toggle anchor member 231 captive of the fixed body 400while the anchor assembly A is rotatably driven into the wall W (FIGS.21 a and 21 b). These interlocking members interlock the two maincomponents (the anchor member 231 and the fixed body 400) during thewall-cutting phase of the installation, in order to provide the requiredrigidity when driven with the manual or power screwdriver. Theseinterlocking members, as previously described, include the tracks 235and 236 that cooperate with the posts 224 and 226, and the male elements402 and 406 that cooperate with the female elements 404 and 408. Theseinterlocking members are designed such that they do not interfere withthe pivoting movement of the toggle anchor member 231 and allow settinginto final installation position, for the screw to be installed into thethreaded toggle anchor member 231.

In the following claims, the terms “wall” and “walls” are meant to coverother hollow structures, e.g. ceilings, etc.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way ofspecific embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing fromthe spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An anchor assembly for hollow walls, comprisingan anchor body and a toggle member moveably mounted to said anchor body,said toggle member being displaceable between first and second positionsthereof, wherein in said first position said toggle member issubstantially aligned with said anchor body such that the anchorassembly can be rotated for insertion in the wall, and wherein in saidsecond position said toggle member extends behind the wall at an anglerelative to said anchor body with said anchor body extending through thehole in the wall, said toggle member being held captive in said firstposition but being displaceable longitudinally along said anchor bodywhen an appropriate fastener is introduced in said anchor body,deflector means being provided for causing, after a sufficientlongitudinal displacement of said toggle member has released the samefrom a captive state thereof, said toggle member to pivot relative tosaid anchor body to said second position, said toggle member beingadapted to then threadably receive the fastener such that furtherrotation of the fastener draws said toggle member against a hidden sideof the wall with said anchor body being held substantially fixedrelative to the wall, said anchor body and said toggle member beingprovided with at least first and second locking means that cooperate forretaining said toggle member in said captive state when in said firstposition, said locking means being spaced apart.
 2. An anchor assemblyas defined in claim 1, wherein said locking means each includecooperating first and second elements provided on respective ones ofsaid toggle member and said anchor body, said first and second elementsbeing axially engaged to one another.
 3. An anchor assembly as definedin claim 2, wherein said first and second elements of each locking meanscomprise tongue and groove elements provided on respective ones of saidtoggle member and said anchor body.
 4. An anchor assembly as defined inclaim 3, wherein said tongue and groove elements extend substantiallyparallelly to said anchor body.
 5. An anchor assembly as defined inclaim 3, wherein said anchor body includes a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel posts, trailing section of said toggle memberbeing slidable between and along said posts such that a longitudinaldisplacement of said toggle member relative to said anchor bodydisengages said tongue and groove elements from one another, said togglemember leaving said captive state so as to then be allowed to pivot tosaid second position as said deflector means engages a distal element ofsaid anchor body.
 6. An anchor assembly as defined in claim 5, whereinsaid distal element of said anchor body comprises a connector attachedto distal ends of said posts.
 7. An anchor assembly as defined in claim5, wherein said locking means further include first and second pairs oftracks defined along longitudinal edges of said toggle member andadapted to engage, in said first position, side edges of said posts ofsaid anchor body.
 8. An anchor assembly as defined in claim 7, whereinsaid first and second pairs of tracks are provided on opposite sides ofsaid posts, with an axial space being defined between said first andsecond pairs of tracks, said axial space being dimensioned so as toreceive therein said posts when said toggle member is in said secondposition thereof, wherein said posts abut said first and second pairs oftracks for limiting said toggle member to a substantially perpendicularposition relative to said anchor body thereby facilitating the threadedengagement of the fastener in said toggle member.
 9. An anchor assemblyas defined in claim 5, wherein said tongue elements are provided on saidposts of said anchor body and extend in a substantially samelongitudinal direction, and wherein said groove elements are defined onsaid toggle member and extend in a substantially same longitudinaldirection.
 10. An anchor assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidanchor body is made of a plastics material, such as nylon, and saidtoggle member is made of a metallic material, such as zinc.
 11. Ananchor assembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor body and a togglemember moveably mounted to said anchor body, said toggle member beingdisplaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in saidfirst position said toggle member is substantially aligned with saidanchor body such that the anchor assembly can be rotated for insertionin the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle memberextends behind the wall at an angle relative to said anchor body withsaid anchor body extending through the hole in the wall, said togglemember being held captive in said first position but being displaceablelongitudinally along said anchor body when an appropriate fastener isintroduced in said anchor body, deflector means being provided forcausing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacement of said togglemember has released the same from a captive state thereof, said togglemember to pivot relative to said anchor body to said second position,said toggle member being adapted to then threadably receive the fastenersuch that further rotation of the fastener draws said toggle memberagainst a hidden side of the wall with said anchor body being heldsubstantially fixed relative to the wall, wherein said anchor bodycomprises a proximal collar provided on a leading side thereof with atleast one curved locking protrusion extending outwardly from said collarand adapted to engage the wall at the end of the rotary installation ofsaid anchor assembly in the wall and thereby provide resistance to afurther rotation of said anchor assembly relative to the wall.
 12. Ananchor assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein there are provided twosaid locking protrusions.
 13. An anchor assembly as defined in claim 12,wherein each said curved locking protrusion includes a fin.
 14. Ananchor assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein each said curved lockingprotrusion is helix-shaped.
 15. An anchor assembly as defined in claim12, wherein said locking protrusions are provided substantially ondiametrically opposed sides of said collar.
 16. An anchor assembly asdefined in claim 11, wherein said anchor body comprises a flanged end,proximally of said collar, said flanged end being adapted to restagainst a visible surface of the wall once said anchor body has beeninstalled in the wall.
 17. An anchor assembly as defined in claim 16,wherein a space is provided axially between said flanged end and eachsaid locking protrusion, for receiving drywall particles.
 18. An anchorassembly for hollow walls, comprising an anchor body and a toggle membermoveably mounted to said anchor body, said toggle member beingdisplaceable between first and second positions thereof, wherein in saidfirst position said toggle member is substantially aligned with saidanchor body such that the anchor assembly can be rotated for insertionin the wall, and wherein in said second position said toggle memberextends behind the wall at an angle relative to said anchor body withsaid anchor body extending through the hole in the wall, said togglemember being held captive in said first position but being displaceablelongitudinally along said anchor body when an appropriate fastener isintroduced in said anchor body, deflector means being provided forcausing, after a sufficient longitudinal displacement of said togglemember has released the same from a captive state thereof, said togglemember to pivot relative to said anchor body to said second position,said toggle member being adapted to then threadably receive the fastenersuch that further rotation of the fastener draws said toggle memberagainst a hidden side of the wall with said anchor body being heldsubstantially fixed relative to the wall, wherein said anchor body ismade of a plastics material, such as nylon, and said toggle member ismade of a metallic material, such as zinc, temporary locking means beingprovided between said anchor body and said toggle member in said firstposition for providing rigidity to said anchor assembly.